Autocar Professional's June 1 issue – out now

Connected vehicles is one of the key global megatrends. By 2025, the global connected vehicles parc is expected to be over 200 million. Like electrification and autonomous driving, the connected vehicle megatrend is set to impact the society tremendously. Vehicles talking to each other, to the traffic infrastructure, grid, cloud and what not! Mobility will not only be more efficient, it will be safer as well.

Technology, however, doesn't always solve a problem. So, as connected technology makes inroads into automobiles, it may also compromise the safety of a vehicle.Then, with increased digitalisation there will be the need of tremendous computing, backup, management and data analysis capability. As automobiles go lighter, new requirements are adding to the weight of deliverables by their makers.

OEMs and suppliers in India are already gearing up to tap the connected vehicle megatrend and reap benefits. The rich talent pool of electronics and software engineers make India a strong base for
developing technologies that cater to the new megatrends.

Autocar Professional's latest issue is all about telematics and software and how Indian and the global automotive industry is gearing up for a connected world.

Connected cars and autonomous cars produce data in petabyte dimensions each year. This makes backup, storage, management and analysis of data an enormous challenge. Jim Simon Sr, director of marketing, Quantum, reveals how this challenge can be mastered with the right technologies.  

Security in the realm of connected cars is critical. With the average connected car's go-to-market period being five years, both the physical and network security measures are often outdated by the time they are in production. Sherry C Kunjachan of Quest Global details the challenges preventing OEMs from filling these cyber security gaps.

Google Maps has made locating places a fun thing. Suren Ruhela, director, Program Management, Google Maps, reveals what it takes to come up trumps with the Indian motorist, developing a two-wheeler mode specifically for India, the company's growth strategy and lots more.

Harman International, which was acquired by Samsung Electronics last year, is among the global majors driving change in the automobile market. Arvin Baalu, vice-president, Digital Cockpit Platform Group, Harman International, details the gains emanating from the partnership with the Korean giant, speedy digitalisation of the car cockpit, bringing computing platforms meant for premium cars down to mass-market entry models, and the growing convergence of the electronics and the automotive world.

Software is another type of 'glue' in today's automobiles. Jayant Bhadauria, education industry head, MathWorks India and Vinod Thomas, dean, MIT University, Manipal, speak on how the two organisations are training students with MathWorks' software tools, all aimed at enhancing student employability in the real world.

The June 1 issue also has Magesh Srinivasan, global head - Connected Cars & AI, Engineering & R&D Services, HCL Technologies, writing for Autocar Professional.

Winds of change in India's component industry
The Indian auto industry is not immune to the advent of global megatrends like connectivity, autonomous, safety  and electrification. What's good to is that key component suppliers are taking the necessary steps and investing in new tech to ride the winds of change.

Last month saw ACMA host its first-ever Value Chain Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, an event which saw all industry stakeholders make their presence felt. Our first-hand report on the Tier 1 and 2 players reveals the huge potential the state has as it sets out to develop a robust eco-system of component manufacturing.

There's lots more in this 80-page issue. Find out howa hard-charging Tata Motors is plotting a new model assault in FY2018, why Toyota Kirloskar Motor believes the just-launched safety-laden Yaris will make a difference in India, and Honda Cars India's bullishness on the recently introduced new Amaze sedan.

New cars these may be but a good automobile dealer is what makes a vehicle manufacturer smile in a competitive marketplace. Find out who are India's top dealers across the passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle and two-wheeler segments at the 2018 FADA Awards. The day-long event was organised by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), the apex national body representing the automobile dealers across India, and saw participation from nearly 400 dealers from across India, vying for recognition of their excellence in the areas of dealership management, CSR and community service.

All this plus an exciting News section in this 80-page issue.

Where to buy?
Autocar Professional  magazine is available through select newsagents and for digital download from Magzster. 

You can also buy one-off copies of Autocar Professional magazine – contact Ganesh at ganesh@haymarket.co.in or write to us at autocarpro@haymarketsac.com. Alternatively, never miss an issue: subscribe to Autocar Professional magazine today.